Apparatus for making photographic films.



J. E. THORNTON & H. KUI-IN.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PHOTOGRAPHIG FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28. 1910.

Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

J. E. THORNTON & H. KUHN.

APPARATUS FOR M-AKING PHOTOGRAPHIG FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 1910.

a. a 4 1 om 00 w H mm m L 0, 1 S III E Lb m 4 W T g M N H Q d m V m 4 1 N M m w m a P M 4 5 mm a a wv E m E a @E 95 w? 'III/IIIIIIIII/IIIII/Il wfimmessms 7% J. E. THORNTON & H. KUHN. APPARATUS FOR MAKING PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS. APPLIOATION FILED JULYzs. 1910.

1,1 16,762, Patented Nov. 10, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET s.

Fig 7, me 8,

1914. 4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

J. E. THORNTON & H. KUHN.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PHOTOGRAPHIO FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 28, 191 0.

Patented Nov. 10

Fig. 11?

NITED sTa'rEe PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN nnwann THORNTGN hnnHENnY KUHN, or adcnnsrnn, NEW YORK, ASSIGN- ons ro rmnrnoor FILM COMPANY, or nocrrns'rna, New roan, A oonronarrou 0F IllllIAINlEl.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING PHOTOGRQKIC- FILMS.

Specification of Letters Patent. PatntQd NOV; 1Q 1914;:

Application filed July 28, 1910. Serial No. 574,362.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we,- JoHN EDWARD THORNTON, a subjectof the King of Great Britain, and HENRY KUHN, a citizen of the. United States, and both residents of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in .Apparatus for Making Photographic Films, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for making photographic films.

Its ObJGCl is to deposit upon amoving. surface the material out of which the film is made in the form of a film, under conditions that will enable the film to be formed rapidly upon the moving surface, and at the same time enable it to set while it remains on the moving surface.

The invention comprises an endless belt that has a surface suitable for the manufacture of photographic film's, and is, at

. the same time, of such length that the film spread upon it will have time toset, though the belt is moved at ah-igher rate of speed than has heretofore been attained by machines for making photographic films also means for spreading the film-making material upon the belt and also means for drying the film upon the belt when formed.

In the drawings: Figure '1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the complete machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view rojected from Fig;

1; Fig. 3 is a diagram t at shows howthe film is dried upon the machine; Fig. 4 is a cross-section of the ga e for regulating the thickness of the film; ig. 5- is' apartial end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the clutch for driving. the roller onto which the film is Wound from the belt Figs. 7, -8, 9, 10 and 11 are cross-sections that illustrate how the sections of the belt may be joined so that it will present for the reception of the Elm a smooth, continuous surface Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a part of the driving chain; Fig. 13 is a top plan of the same;

Fig. 14 is a cross-section onthe line 14--14 of Fig. 12; Figs. 15 and 16 are diagrammatic elevations that show two other ar rangements of the carrier and Figs. 17 and 18 are cross-sections on the lines 17-17 and 18-18 of Figs. 15 and 16, respectively.

The machine comprises a suitable frame 1, that has guides or channels 2, 2 for the reception of endless chains or cables 3, 3 (Fig. '2), an'endless carrier or casting-surface 4.- suppoi't'ed by and movable with such chains or cables, and sprockets 5, suitably driven, to move-the chains and-the carrier continuously in one direction.- The guides 2, 2 support the belt between the sprockets 5,. 5-, and extend the full length of the machine, along the upper edge of the frame,

thence down to and along the lower edge and thence back to the upper edge.

A motor 6 isshown for driving the machine, and this is geared at 7 .to a shaft 8. The shaft extends the length of the machine, adjacent to the sprockets 5, and is supported in bearingson the frame 1 (Fig. 1). Large worm-gears 9 are fixed to the sprockets 5, and mesh with worms 10 on the driven shaft 8. The sprockets 5 are thus made to rotate in unison at a reduced speed, and the carrier is made to revolve with them.

The chains 3' (Figs. 12 to 14) are composed of links 11, that carry rollers 12 that are adapted to run inthe channel 2' so that the chain moves smoothly and with little friction.

The links 11 of each chain have lugs 13 at their upper edges to which are bolted slats or bars 1-4 that extend transversely between carrier is made to coincide with the radius of the curved portions of the guide-ways,

and so the casting-surface is saved from buckling'or bending angularly at the points where the carrier passes overthe sprockets. The transparent, photographic films that this gmachine is designed to produce are made from compositions, called dope, that. contain acids which attack many substances that otherwise would be well adapted to serve as the supporting surface of the carrier. Furthermore, it is essential that this supporting surface be smooth, and free from scratches and other markings. A

metal surface meets the requirements better.

. than any other, all things considered, and it has .been a problem how to utilize it for the surface ofv an endless carrier of the type described, when such carrier is of suflicient length both to permit the machine to be run at speed, and at the same time allow the.

film to set while on the belt. Now it has been found that metal cannot be rolled in long lengths without producing superficial irregularities, and that the only way to make a long belt that is perfectly level is to use rolled plates, preferably about ten feet in length, that have been stretched in astretching machine to remove the uneven places. We make the carrier from these plates 4 by fasteningv them tothe transverse slats 14, and they are made to meet together in closely fitti'n'g, smooth joints,

tirely through the latter. The joints shown and it will be observed too that by this constructionthe weight of the casting surfacefalls entirely upon the chains 3, and that'no strain is brought to bear upon the casting surface.

In Figs. 7-11, inclusive, several practical ways are shown of joining the metal sheets so that an even, continuous surface is pro-;

duced.

In Fig. 7 the ends of the sheets are beveled at 15, and a slat 14: is placed beneath the joint, while rivets or screws 16 extend through both the metal sheets and the slat, and are countersunkon top, flush with'the casting-surface. It is desirable that the joint should be filled with solder also. The

joint shown in Fig. 8 is similar except that the edges of these plates are rabbeted instead of being beveled. In Fig.9 the ends of the plates are shown butted square against each other, while a slat overlaps the joint. Screws 17 are tapped through the slat and into the plates, but do not pass en- -in Figs. 8 and 9 are also filled by solder.

g, The joints shown in Figs. 10 and 11 differ from the others, in that the plates 4 are not fastened to the slats 14 at their ends, but directly to each other, while slats are screwed 'to the plates on each side of'the joints and adjacent to them. In Fig;- 10 the ends of the plates are inturned, forming flanges 18 through which bolts 19 are passed and drawn up tight. In Fig. 11 both plates are comparatively thin, andare interlocked as in the ordinary roof-joint, screws 20 being 'tapped in from the bottom to within a slight surface least likely to contain irregularities is one that is bent into an are, as shown in Fig. 1, and for that reason it is advantagepus to run the channels 2 up and down in a curved course across the frame, or, as'specifically represented in the drawings, across that part of it along which the belt first moves after receiving the film. In order to accomplishthis it is necessary to run one or more sections of the endless carrier slack, as shown between the sprockets 5, with respect to the upper half. And this slack is an advantage in itself, for when the carrier is so run the-chains 3 are free from strain that otherwise might tend to stretch them and through them to bring strain upon the oints of the plates. The fact that the sprockets 5 mesh with the chains 3 for a considerable portion of the periphery of said sprockets permits the belt to be run slack in this wa and the arrangement of the channels 2 escribed above relieves the sprockets from muchof the weight of the chain. H

0 In order to bring the surface of the car- 1'18! to a high polish, abufling-device is provlded, which may be used when desired. In the drawin s,- a device is shown that comprises two elt-covered rollers 21, 21 geared together, so as to revolve in oppositedirec tlons (Figs. 1 and 2), and driven by a motor 22. The motor runs at a high speed, and the rollers 21 rub against the carrier and polish it. The rollers may be moved back and forth laterally to prevent the formation of scratches and streaks on the castlug-surface of the carrier, and this movement is accomplished by a. cam 23 on the roller-shaft, which engages a groove 24 on the frame 1 (Fig. 2). a

The composition or dope from which the film is made is contained in a suitable tank 25 located above the machine. This flows through a pipe 26 ontothe center of the carrier 4 at a point slightl below the highest point of the first sproc et 5. z

Inasmuch as the carrier travels continuously in the direction represented by the arrows in the drawing, the fluid, which is of a thick, viscous nature, cannot run back upon the bufiing rollers 21, but is carried upward and forward until it strikes a gage orscraper 27 that extends the-full width of the carrier.

The gage 27 is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, and comprises an inclined plate 28, with rearwardly-extending end pieces 29 that rest on the carrier at 30, and

also, a plate 31 that is slidably mounted on the plate 28. The edges 30 of the end pieces 29 are pressed tightly upon the carrier by adjustableweights 32 (Fig. 1) that are cartied at the endsof' levers 33. Said levers are pivoted to the frame 1 at 34 (Fig. 1) and are connected with the ends 29 at 35.

The plate 31 is guided on the plate 28 by screws 36 that project through slots 37 (Fig.

room 43. A

5) and is moved up or down b -mel'1ns of micrometer screws 38, the latter ei'ng journaled in brackets 39 on the plate 31, and fixedin lugs 40 on the plate as that project through slots 41.

The opening left between the sharp lower edge of the gage 31 and the castin surface of the carrier determines the thic ass of the film that will. be drawn out through this opening. Since only a small amount-of dope can pass through t e gaged'opening at one time, it is caused to bank up and spread out back of the plate .28 and between the and pieces 29, the latter preventing it from running over the edges of the carrier. The

pressure of this accumulation, of course, tends to lift the gage as the dope is drawn through the opening, its viscous nature causing it to adhere to the surface of the carrier, but the weights 32 are adjusted to keep the end pieces 29 continually in close contact with the casting-surface of the carrier, and the micrometers provide means for keeping always the same space between the gage 31 and the carrier, and so insuring a film of uniform thickness. It should be noted too that when this dope, which, as stated, is viscous in character, is used. on a traveling carrier in connection with an inclined plate like 28, and the carrier moves forward carrying the dope against the gage 31, it wedges the dope into the angle between the castingsurface of the carrier and the plate 28, and squeezes it out under great pressure through the opening between the gage 31 and the casting-suit ace of" the carrier in a thin, smooth, even layer. This action makes it possible to spread dope which is extremely thick, such as cohld'not possibly be used-by the \Hzroughs heretofore used for forming film. Since the dope adheres to the castingsurface to some extent and that aids the carrier in squeezing thedope out beneath the gage, the inclination of the plate 28 w1th respect to the moving carrier is an important factor in the formation of the' fin when the dope is of a viscous-nature.

Immediately forward of the gage 27 and rear sprocket 5 (Fig. 3), :Erom the standpoint of its direction of rotation, the carrierpasses throu h a partition 42 and enters a ter passin over the sprocket 5 at the farther end of t e room, the carrier returns through the partition 42 to sand front sprocket. Disposed throughout the length of the room 43 are steam or hot water coils 44. The first coils have less radiating surface than those farther down the room. An air duct 45 leading 'from a blower (not shown) fills the room with fresh air, which rises in temperature. gradually as it approaches the outlet air duct 46 at the farther end of the room, because of the said arrangement of the heating coils, and accordingly the film dries gradually, evenly and thoroughly. The duct 46 is usually connected to an exhau'ster (not shown), which if allowed to pass back to the front sprocket on the carrier, to which it sufliciently adheres to make this possible.

To remove the film fromthe carrier in an unbroken strip, its forward end is peeled. from the carrier by a knife, then passed over an idler-roll 47 lying close to the carrier, and fastened to a winding roller 48. The latter roller is driven from the shaft 8 by means which tend to rotate it at a speed greater than the speed of the carrier, so that after the roller is started, the film will be stripped off the carrier by the tension between said roller and the carrier. A slipping clutch is provided on the roller 48 so that the tension may always be maintained at the required degree. This clutch is shown in section in" Fig. 6. The worm 49 on the shaft 8 drives continuously the wormwheel 50 that is loose on the roller shaft .51. A. collar 52 is fixed on said shaft, and a sleeve 53 is also splined to it, while a spring 54 forces said sleeve against the side of-the worm-wheel 50. If the tension of the film is slight, the friction of the sleeve 53 on the worm-wheel 50 pern1its the latter to rotate the roller 48, but as soon as the tension overcomes the spring pressure, the sleeve slips and permits the worm-wheel to turn without increasing the tension.

From this description of the machine it is obvious that it affords means for employing a long continuous belt, or carrier, which provides a correspondingly long time for the film to dry, and which also makes it possible to employ lower temperatures than otherwise, so that the product of the machine is more uniformly good, and less liable to be distorted than when made on other machines, and all this is accomplished ,while the speed of the machine is greater than other machines have been able to attain.

We have explained-above the advantages derived fromrunning the carrier in a curved path, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Figs. 15 to 18, inclusive, illustrate hther ways in which the carrier may be arranged so that it will run slack and give the advantages men.- tioned. Fig. 15 shows the'upper section of the carrier 4 horizontal, and supported later ally by the rails 2*, 2, while the return section is supported midway between the end sprockets 5, 5 by flanged idler-pulleys 4, 4 (Fig.1?) Fig. 16 shows practically the same arrangement, except that here the re-'.

= turn section of the belt is' entirely unsupthe construction shown in Fig. 15. 7

support for the upper horizontal section just o nation with an endless belt afiording a castported, hanging in its natural curve from the sprockets 5, 5. means for supporting the upper section of the belt when that section is the one that is horizontal. Although Fig. 18. is a cross-section on Fig. 16, it is equally applicable to This referred to consists of longitudinal sup- "ports for the edges of the belt 2, 2, before .mentioned and intermediate parallel rails 2?, 2 I

We cla1m:-- 1. In a film-making machine, the combiing-surface, of a frame movable to and from said surface and weighted to rest thereon,

that intercepts the dope carried by said belt and that has a. gage for regulating the thickness of the film; substantially as shown and described.

2. In a film-ina machine, the combi nation with an endless belt afiording a casting-surface, of a plate that extends ;u

wardly from said casting-surface and bac wardly in the direction oppositethat of the movement of said belt to intercept the dope 'on its casting-surface, that is movable to- I ward and from said casting-surface, that I movement of said belt to intercept the dope on its casting-surface, that is movable toward and from said casting-surface, that has side pieces adapted to--;rest upon the latter, and that is weighted-torest thereon;

a gage supported by said plate for. regulat-.

ing the thickness ofthe film; and means for adjusting the weight whereby the side pieces of the plate are held upon the surface of said belt; substantially as .shown and described. H

4. In -'a film-making machine, ,the. combination with an endless belt afifording a castingsurface, of a plate that extends upwardly from said casting-surface and backwardly in the direction opposite that of the movement ipf-s aid belt to intercept the dope on its casting-surface, that is movable toward and from sald casting-surface, that L has side pieces adapted ,to rest upon the o5 film; and means for adjusting the distance ing devices, of aflexlble, endless belt having 130 latter,'and that, is weighted so that said side pieces rest thereon; a gage supported by'said plate. for regulating the. thickness of the Fig. 18 illustrates a nation between said gage and the casting-surface of said belt; substantially as shown and de-.

scribed. a

5. In film-making'apparatus, the combnation-with a film-drying compartment, of dope depositing and film-forming devices,

adjacently located and an endless, horizon-- tally-extending belt that afl'ords a film-casting surface that is adapted to receive dope from said devices and which enters said compartment after receiving the film, and

returns the film after it has been dried to.

farther end; means for increasingly heating the air in its assage through said compartment; and a orizontally-supported endless belt, that affords a film-castin surface that is adapted to receive dope rom said device's,."and then to enter said compartment with it; substantially as shown and described.

7. In a. fihn-makin machine, the combination with a suitab e frame, of dope-de- /p0sitin and film-forming devices; a flexible, en es belt, having a metal casting-surface" comprised of thin, transversely-extending plates, suitably su ported and guided at their ends and rigi ly secured together ture; substantially as shown and described.

.8. In it. film-makin machine, the combiith a suitab e frame, of dope-depositing and film-forming devices; a flexible, endless belt, having a metal casting-sur face, said belt. comprising endless parallel supports and thin transverse, plates, rigidly secured together along their sides to form a unitary structure, and connected at their ends with said endless supports; and means for supporting said belt rotatively and for operating it; substantially as shown and described.

9. In a film-making machine, the combination with dope-depositing and fihn-forming. devices, of a flexible, endless belt having a metal casting-surface, said belt comprising parallel endless supports 3, 3, transverse slats 14 that extend between and are connected with said supports, and-plates 4 that are connected to said slats and meet together in closely fitting jointsa suitable supporting frame;and means thereon for rotatively supporting said belt; substantially as shown and described.

10. In a film-making machine, the combination-with dope-depositing and film-formalong their sides to form a unitary struca metal casting-surface, said belt comprising parallel, endless supports, and thin metal plates that extend transversely between said supports and are connected together along their sides to form a unitary structure; a suitable frame, having oppositely-placed, parallel channels that are adapted to receive'said supports; and means on said frame for rotatively supporting said belt; substantially as shown and described.

11. In a film-making machine, the combination with dope-depositing and film-forming devices, of a suitable frame having oppositely-placed endless channels to serve as side supports for an endless'belt; a flexible, endless belt that is adapted to travel in said channels, respectively; and means on said frame for rotatively supporting said belt; substantially as shown and described.

t 12. -In a film-making machine, the combination with dope-depositin and film-forming devices, of a flexible, en less belt, havin self-supporting devices along its sides; anc l a frame having oppositely-placed endless channels adapted to receive said supporting devices; substantially as shown and de scribed.

13. .In a film-making machine, the combination, with dope-depositing and film-forming devices, of a flexible, endless, resilient belt; a series of sprocket-wheels upon which the belt is mounted with upper and lower stretches of which one, at least, consists of a. series of deep catenary curves; and gearing connecting and actuating the sprocketwheels, whereby they are driven positively at such relative speeds as to maintain the belt in said position.

14. In a film-making machine, the combination, with dope-depositing and film-forming devices, of a flexible, endless, resilient belt extended with a stretch upon the upper cooperating directly and positively with the belt for supporting said stretch and moving it, away from' said devices, through a succession of deep reverse longitudinal curves, whereby the belt is prevented from bending transversely during such movement.

JOHN EDWVARD THORNTON.

HENRY KUHN. Witnesses:

H. DRUKKER, D. GURNEE.

surface of which the dope is directly de- 

